Fortunately for us, the Word of God speaks to the issue of traditions frequently. And even more importantly, our Lord Jesus Christ helps clearly define what they will look like. What a gracious act of mercy!

Overall, a tradition is a custom or belief that is translated into action from generation to generation, and/or group to group, and/or person to person. In the same way that the Bible emphatically proclaims that all actions are either good or evil, it also states all religious traditions are either from God (good) or man (evil). There is no middle ground.

Christ Flames Out Evil Traditions of Man

Here are the direct mentions of tradition(s) in the New Testament record. The main Greek word used is paradosis, which is a “a handing down or over.” Notice that we have added the word “man” to “elders” to further clarify the polar opposite.

Matthew 15:1-9 Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders (man)? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition (of the elders-man)? For God said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,’ and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.’

“But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God, he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And by this you invalidated the word (tradition) of God for the sake of your tradition (of the elders-man).

“You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'”

In this story in Mark we see a few additional interesting tidbits.

Mark 7:8-9 “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men (elders).” He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition (of men).

We see here the juxtaposition between neglecting the commandment of God (evil) by setting it aside vs. the worship of God by teaching and living His doctrines (good). Again, there no middle ground.

Now then, one of the most perplexing things about the false religious leaders of the ancient day was that they combined their rank heresy teaching with occasions of truth. Much like modern times, this completely misleads the flock who put their stock in these teachers.

We see Christ graciously admonishing the crowds and disciples about the hypocritical message being sent.

Matthew 23:1-3 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you (that is true truth from God’s traditions), do and observe (guard), but do not do according to their (evil) deeds; for they say things and do not do them.

Of course, there were saved Pharisees like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. The Word alludes to the fact that as least some were frightened to make a public stand.

John 19:38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body.

Paul Speaks Plainly to God’s Traditions & Man’s Traditions

The apostle Paul speaks resolutely to the traditions of God he handed down to the new church plants, and the saints. It is quite clear he and they knew what these were since he did not describe them in the command.

1 Corinthians 11:2 Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions (of God), just as I delivered them to you.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.

He also, in equally strong terms, solemnly testifies to the deception and evil of man’s traditions.

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ (tradition of God).

2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition (of God) which you received from us.

The obvious question, then, should be what are the traditions of God and the traditions of man? And how do we discern the difference in bringing pleasure to our Father?

Traditions of God Defined

First, we need a simple definition to remember as a plumb line. We offer this: whatever the world and carnal church loves to do, or to excess, just do the opposite.

We must remember that all of our behavior, including motive, needs to be holy, i.e. set apart from the pedestrian day by day activities of the lost and dying world. If we cannot with our heart rush to the throne and give our Father the activity that provides Him great glory, then we must refrain from it. This also includes the most simple action like even carefully brushing our teeth!

1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

Biblical Traditions Examples

Some examples of Biblical traditions are in order.

1) Assembly (church) meetings…

a) we are to assemble as we are able (Heb. 10.25), and many meet on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16.2); therefore, meeting once a year under ordinary circumstances is not acceptable when at least weekly, whenever possible, is the tradition Paul handed down.

b) we are not to demand assembling a specific day (Col. 2.16), like those who have told me to my face I’m going to hell if I fail to meet on Saturday, mainly Seventh Day Adventist denomination folk.

c) we are not to allow a head buffalo “pastor” to be in charge like the Roman Catholic priest-pope, but have a plurality of leaders-elders, with each having a voice (Heb. 13.17).

2) Meeting in homes like the early assemblies so each believer can enjoy the open forum led by the Holy Spirit, obey the ‘one anothers,’ and use their gifting (1 Cor. 14.26).

3) Carefully listening and discussing crucial issues to preserve the unity of the Spirit and avoiding church splits: Acts 15, Eph. 4

6) Open rebuke of leaders who continue in sin in front of all: Titus 3.10

7) Except the Father, everyone has a “head” – Christ has the Father, Man has Christ, Woman has Man: 1 Cor. 11.3

When you begin to see this revelation about the traditions of God, many areas of our spiritual life include long standing traditions from the Word of God. They are the norm. We should be comfortable with them, and should obey them.

Demonic Traditions of Man Examples

Some examples of demonic traditions of man are in order…

1) Like the false Pharisees, any forced and demanded allegiance without obeying the obvious heart of God: Matt. 23.4

4) Requiring a person to attend a church with a “pastor” who actually lords authority over the flock and protects unbelievers: Matt. 20.25, 2 Cor. 6.14-17

5) Taking up arms to kill enemies when God places leaders in authority to control His world: Romans 12.14-13.7

6) Storing up greedy treasures on earth as taught by almost all Christian financial planners and church leaders: Matt. 6.19-34, Luke 16.14-15

Living God’s Traditions Will Bring Persecution & Please God

Traditions of God are commanded, not suggested. They are good for the saints and not legalism. Grace is available to obey God, not to cover up willful and consistent sin.

We are to practice righteous living…holiness. Our eternal destiny is predicated on this command of our Lord. We never want to be erased from the Book of Life.

Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification (holiness) without which no one will see the Lord.

The evil traditions of the world, the devil, are ordinarily foisted upon the populace by religious leaders who often think they are doing God a favor. Well, not so. Jesus warned us of such people, especially in end times.

John 16:2 “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue (assemblies), but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God…”

So, therefore, the burning question is what traditions are you, dear one, practicing on week by week basis? Do they all bring pleasure to God? Or are you mostly tickling your own fancy?

Colossians 1:10 …so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…

If you ever encounter a practice that appears uncertain to you, just remember anything that the world loves to do, or to excess, is a tradition of man.

Just do the opposite. The Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth and confirm the real path of God!

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See brother Beresford Job teach this excellent Video and Podcast series on the history of the traditions here.

You may see our prayers over the years below right after this short introduction.

The Word of God is clear that leaders He puts in place have authority over us and bear the sword to keep basic order. For the majority of the non-biblical right wing Republican Christian this includes Clinton and Obama.

Romans 13:1-2 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

Furthermore, the Almighty commands us to pray and give thanksgivings for all men.

All.

Not just Reagan, W, and Trump.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Thus, there are times when this yields a tranquil life of holiness and dignity. Sometimes, serious Christians get tremendous persecution. Either way, this is a command, and not a suggestion.

You may also see the story here of an American President who finds Christ and actually obeys the Christianity of Christ, not the demonic American gospel.

We must remember: politics is compromise with the devil himself. There is no compromise in the life of Christ and those who really follow Him closely.

Trump

Our dear Lord, we pray mightily that you save President Trump from the wrath that abides on him due to his despicable life as a pagan. That he would repent deeply and become a new creation in Jesus Christ. That he would become holy and love his enemies, sell all his possessions and live simply, actually begin living a humble life, and become pure in heart so that he will see You. Have him turn completely from his perverted sex life and involvement with the likes of pedophile Jeffery Epstein. In this, he would begin to actually obey You and escape the lake of fire. Send a real believer who follows the real gospel to him before it’s too late. We also pray for his lost wife and children.

And, Father, we pray that the 80%+ of self-professed American churchgoers that voted for Trump would see their folly in thinking American is “great” or any nation might even become so. That the kingdom of God has no relationship…none…with the world or its ways. We must be about our Father’s business too.

Obama

Lord God, we pray for this New World Order pawn, custom made for these times to deceive the unsuspecting Americans captured by the world system. That he would never feign a real faith in Christ and draw the deceived Christian into his web. Father, save this man from his tremendous sins, among them drug use and homosexuality. We pray for his lost wife and precious daughters too. Save them all, oh God, from the lake of fire, and eternal damnation.

And, Father, open the eyes of well-meaning but deceived Christians advisors like Joel Hunter of Orlando who I know personally and that is this President’s “advisor.” Let Hunter see that by their fruits he will know them. Let Hunter rebuke him as the Word commands and have nothing to do with this man (2 Tim. 3) based on the President’s heinous sin of same-sex marriage support. Let the so-called church members pursue Your kingdom exclusively. The world is dying and passing away…it cannot be or never will be improved.

W Bush

Oh God, save this arrogant man from eternal perdition! He is such a pawn in the New World Order and their antichrist, as he follows in his father’s footsteps of sexual perversion. He loves to kill his enemy, get wealthy, demean his opposition, and lie regularly. He was totally in on the 911 inside job false flag killing all those souls. He throws a few bones to the Christian right, and lives just like the world. My Lord, make a new creation of him after he deeply repents! We pray also for his wife and daughters, as well as his lost brothers and parents.

And, Father, we pray for the deceived Christian leaders who say they pray weekly with President Bush. Especially the leader who also prays with the President and picked me up at the Dulles airport admonishing me for writing the truth about the President and his evil ways. Help them all to see the President’s perverted sex life.

Clinton

Our Master and Creator, we pray for President Clinton that he repent of his ways and follow Christ all his days. There is such deception in his life and those who surround him. May You take the scales off his eyes so that he will clearly see the folly of his life, and his web of lies. We also pray for his evil wife and their lost daughter.

And, Father, we pray that our brother Tony Campolo, drifting towards apostasy, who confided in me he was personally in the White House praying for the President, see Clinton for who he really is: a wolf in sheep’s clothing. And the other Christians would pray for this President too, not just the right wing Republicans.

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Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.

Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,

Marc

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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!

Marc and Walk Worthy are supported in part by the body of Jesus Christ. Please consider donating on a regular basis:

It is quite fashionable these days in carnal church circles to believe God would never call them or their deeds “evil.”

The Religion Of Niceness (RON) reigns supreme in the hearts and minds of millions of devotees. There are hundreds of accumulated teachers and preachers who enjoy nothing better than to tickle the ears of their audience.

We see our brother Paul proclaim solemnly to his favorite disciple the coming times that we moderns also must endure.

2 Timothy 4:1-4 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

But, what do you personally think of this doctrine that self-professing church goers, and even ourselves, can be called evil, along with their deeds?

You see in the picture above of the life of walking from +10 to -10. The ultimate reward is hearing “well done.” The ultimate punishment is hearing “depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.”

Let us turn to the Word of God for direction. Please remember that proper biblical hermeneutics, or interpretation, can only be accurate if the first part of exegesis is correct. Exegesis, or the then-and-there meaning of the original author, is crucial to any current modern application.

First, we see our very Lord separating all peoples into only two groups: good or evil, the righteousness and unrighteous.

Matthew 5:45 …so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Next, in the same message, Jesus calls the righteously saved audience “evil” in comparison to His Father.

Matthew 7:11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!..”

Then, we see Him refuse to delineate any sort of gray area. Everything is good or evil.

Perhaps Jesus is exaggerating, using hyperbole. Maybe…but I think not. Here is what the apostle Paul declared about the judgment of believers to the carnal Corinthian church plant whose main leaders were taking him on at every turn.

Notice the translators use the word “bad” to contrast the good deed in the passage below. The same Greek word here, as well as those used by Jesus above, is rendered “evil” in many places. The English word is interchangeable, but the underlying Greek word declares itself “evil” being the same as “bad.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad (evil).

We return to Christ as He speaks to good and evil only…not some middle ground. Notice again the warning admonishment by our Lord of the coming judgment for “rotten (evil) words.”

Matthew 12:35-36 “The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless (rotten, evil) word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment…”

A few scant verses later in this same 12th chapter Jesus calls His audience “an evil and adulterous generation…” and again after the story of deliverance from demons he calls them “this evil generation.”

In Luke, the Master is again extremely clear in the companion passage that ties to Matthew 12.

Luke 6:45 “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart..”

The Lord refuses to call bad deeds something less like “compromised” or “less than the best.” Never. He is laser focused on what they are to Father God. The evil comes from the heart…always.

And to top it all off, Jesus calls all church members His “slaves” but in particular the disobedient ones are “evil” and headed for the lake of fire and based on God’s disapproval.

Matthew 24:48 “But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master (God) is not coming for a long time,’…”

Now, Paul says we should not crave evil things (1 Cor. 10,6), that some considered their good deeds an evil report (2 Cor. 6.8), that the present age was evil (Gal. 1.4), that the days are evil (Eph. 5.16), to take up the full armor of God to resist the evil day (Eph. 6.19), to beware of evil church workers (Phil. 3.2), and that we are never to return to the evil deeds of our past (Col. 1.29, 3.1).

This is just a taste of Paul’s theology of evil. But what about the other apostles?

For example, our brother James in his book is extremely descriptive too.

James 3:8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

James 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

James 4:16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.

Peter too uses evil to describe the unsaved, and bad deeds of church goers if they will not walk worthy. The face of our God is against those who “do evil.”

1 Peter 2:16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.

1 Peter 3:9-12 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

For, “THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT. HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.

“FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”

Do you see, brethren, as I do, an overwhelming trend here? If you think a deed and its motive are in the gray area, it probably is evil in the eyes of our Lord.

Most modern Christians I have met by the hundreds would never think themselves to be evil, or even their deeds as such.

Some time ago, I ran into a single woman who wanted to marry me. She pursued me and I really thought we might end up married. But, she was not sold out to Christ as I watched her reaction to our teaching, especially in the area on mammon and “church” which is the people, the called out ones.

She was strongly influenced negatively by the American gospel and an older church lady she knew for years. The older church lady hated my preaching. She went behind the back of the single woman and told her family members that I was not a Christian because I met in house churches and my hair was too long! I kid you not. The single woman was furious at the betrayal but wanted to keep up appearances in the church.

The older church lady continued to denigrate me behind my back to everyone who would listen. The Holy Spirit was informing me of this, and also as I watched her behavior in my presence. This woman was not “good” as the Scripture describes such a person of God.

Eventually I told the single woman that this older church lady was “evil” and began to explain what the Word declared. I exhorted her to avoid this woman as the Scripture commanded. She was appalled at my accusation, shaking her head “no” violently. It was all about appearances to her.

Satan used this church lady, a Christian feminist who also demonically controlled her husband and entire family, to blow up this potential marriage. It was a blessing in disguise that the Lord took off the masks of these “evil” women.

Both these women were successfully hiding out in the institutional church system that has absolutely no clue of what a person really is doing outside the few hours a week a person darkens their door.

Lest we might think that this idea of only good or evil is a New Testament aberration, we turn to a favorite Psalm song of mine and see that good and evil, righteousness and unrighteousness, and loving judgment is a doctrine of God in the entire Word. Our brother David the psalmist never speaks or alludes to a middle ground of conduct or those who do so.

Psalm 37:1-6 Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.

Psalm 37:7-14 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked (evil) schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.

Yet a little while and the wicked (evil) man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there. But the humble (righteous) will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity. The wicked (evil) plots against the righteous and gnashes at him with his teeth.

The Lord laughs at him, for He sees his day is coming. The wicked (evil) have drawn the sword and bent their bow to cast down the afflicted and the needy, to slay those who are upright (righteous) in conduct.

Take another look at the picture depicting the life of walking worthy, or walking evil. There is no middle ground, beloved, when it comes to the Word and our coming judgment.

Do you confess Christ with your mouth? Are you using 100% of your God given talents? Are you a saint who walks worthy and sin is a fluke? Or are you yet a sinner?

Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

Matthew 25:28-30 …”…’Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth…”

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.

Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,

Marc

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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!

Marc and Walk Worthy are supported in part by the body of Jesus Christ. Please consider donating on a regular basis: